June 2026 - Looking Back At June

At the beginning of the month, while the Woman was at her sewing class, the Man took Poppy and me to Rouken Glen Park. We walked along the paths, into the meadow, around the pond and stopped off at The Boathouse cafe kiosk, where the Man ordered an ice cream for himself, but nothing for us, even though another dog, a Lab puppy, received a puppaccino. 

Rather miffed, I decided action was called for and leapt up onto the kiosk counter. I was only on my pedestal briefly before the Man yanked me down again, not long enough to be seen by the distracted assistant, but I'd made my point. My sudden athleticism astounded a nearby woman, who was amazed that I could leap so high from a standing start. The Man informed her I, unfortunately, had form in that department. Heehee!

I can make that.

After he finished his ice cream, the Man returned to buy us each a puppaccino. In return, I promised not to eat any of the poop left around the pond by the Canadian Geese.

Poppy has been in a playful mood all month. She is constantly locating new objects to play with in the garden. Her stone collection keeps growing, and she discovered the box in the living room, blocking access to the internet power cable, now contains all her toys. Well, it did. It doesn't anymore.

It had been too hot to risk an afternoon walk, so one evening, around 7:20 pm, the Man took us for a walk up the Braes.  A gathering of dog walkers ahead gave me pause. One had binoculars and was looking towards the trees. We approached cautiously.

Then, all of a sudden, the Man whipped out his phone and started taking pictures. 

An owl in plain sight scanning the field for prey. It swooped, hovered, then dived, coming back up with something in its talons. 

We joined the other dog walkers, one of whom had the Merlin app and could tell us it was a long-eared owl (its ears are hidden during flight). It returned to the trees, briefly silencing its fledgling owlets. 

The Man sent this picture to the Woman, who is a keen bird watcher. She demanded to know where he was. She was well jealous. 

She had calmed down by the time they attended Take That at Hampden. This trip meant we got another night's stay at the kennels. The staff reported to the Man the next day that I had come out of my shell a lot more this time. In other words, I'd barked myself hoarse. He shouldn't have laughed at my weak attempts to bark at a cat when we got home. It wasn't funny. We're going back to the kennels next month during their next holiday. 

Silver Birch Cabin, Forest Holidays, Glentress 

Well, not quite their next holiday. They did take us with them to their Forest Holidays' cabin at Glentress, where we spent the best part of a week. 

I didn't like the long, windy road up to the holiday park. The road surface was so rough I thought my bones would rattle out of my skin. 

Yes, but how far is it to our cabin?

The cabin was lovely, with underfloor heating and sofas so long I could stretch out or snuggle, depending on my mood.

It took longer for Poppy to relax. She runs about like the floor's on fire at the best of times.

The floor is hot!

I'm not getting down.
Not until you tell me why the floor is hot.

The humans struggled at first to find us places to walk. Most of the trails were intended for bikes (and there were loads). Eventually, we found the paths for walking on. The views weren't that great. Nor was the weather. But at least I took the lead on June's Tick Tally. Two-nil up by the halfway point.

Can we go for food now?

The cafe at the holiday park was fantastic. The staff were so good at giving us tickles and bringing us complimentary dog biscuits. The humans ate there, too.

We only visited Peebles once. The village was draped in red and white bunting in advance of their Beltane Festival. We walked along the River Tweed and discovered more wildlife.

Heron No 1

Heron No 2

Ducks practising holding their breath underwater

Heron No 3

The man found what he was looking for.

Back at the holiday park, we nipped out between showers. Apparently, I'm as tall as a badger.

Poppy's the height of a Tawny Owl

 

Poppy eventually agreed the floor was not on fire.

After a couple of misfires,

she also learned how to settle.

We left the holiday on a high.

Afterwards, the Man and Woman decided we would spend the weekend at our cabin. I unfortunately lost my lead in the Tick Tally, losing three-two to Poppy, who nosed her way along every weed and thistle beside the holiday park's paths to win. About as disappointing as Scotland's performance against Brazil in the World Cup.

I'm not moving. I got here first.

Wanna bet?

You can be so annoying!

I win!

During the warmest day, Poppy cooled off with a play in the paddling pool, followed by a spin around the garden to dry herself. She loves the water. Me not so much. 

May 2026 - "We're All Going On A Sunny Holiday"

 

Molly was still with us at the start of the month. She continued to make herself at home.

She's not sharing.

We celebrated Molly going home with a trip to Irvine Beach. It felt like we hadn't been in ages. It didn't turn out to be much of a celebration: the Man had heartburn, I wasn't allowed to roll on a dead seagull, and my poop got stuck to my bum hair and needed to be washed off using the Mud Daddy. It felt like getting an enema. The Man got his comeuppance when he realised the Mud Daddy had leaked inside his car boot, forming a puddle. I've nicknamed it the Puddle Car Daddy.

Irvine Beach

That's one way to get sand up your bum.

Poppy chewed through the internet power cable again. The Man was furious, cursing often and loudly, with fury in his eyes. Poppy ran for her life behind the table. I felt I had to take some of the heat off her, so I ate lots of grass at the park, which made me sick. Only I didn't realise we weren't going straight home. I didn't expect to still be in the car when my stomach contents returned, weaved with blades of grass. Nor did I realise the cover I was sick upon was Dry Clean Only. I didn't know that the Man would try to wash the sick off the cover in the sink, or that the water would flow off the fabric onto the floor, or that he wouldn't notice this until after he'd stepped his muddy boots through the puddle several times, leaving bootmarks all across the floor. I also didn't know he'd use a kitchen wipe to mop up the puddle, one that Poppy would steal and run about the living room with in her mouth. He couldn't chase her. He still had his muddy boots on. What I'm saying is my attempt to take the heat off Poppy backfired.

May's tick tally:

Poppy 3

Millie 1

The Man 1.

Poppy won by deliberately brushing her face through all the tall weeds and ferns at the cabin. The Man didn't know he was even in the competition until after a shower, when he found the wriggly thing stuck to his calf.   

I'm not laughing. You're laughing.

The Man took us for a long walk at the Braes. He fancied seeing where the Brandyburn trail went. He didn't realise how far we'd gone until we reached Auchenlodment Road in Elderslie. He had to phone the Woman to pick us up and return him to his car, which he'd left in the car park. 

Isn't the car that way?

Is he really taking us all the way along?

I'm afraid so.

You didn't think this through, did you?

We finally had a proper holiday this month, the first in ages. The humans booked a hotel for a couple of nights in Sandhead, a place near Stranraer. The Tigh Na Mara Hotel is small, but half of its rooms are pet-friendly. And there is no extra charge for bringing us. Big win!

Waiting to go out.

The beach is huge, especially when the tide is out.  

The Mud Daddy got another outing after Poppy ran through the salty rivulets, and I rolled in something fishy.

We spent a morning visiting the Glenwhan Gardens and Arboretum in Dunragit. The day started out scorching hot.

Ready?

"Those are not ground birds"

"Hakuna Matata"

Their mummy?

Is the Woman about to be smited?

I'd love to go for a swim

I'm thirsty, too.

This frog is baked solid.

From here, you can see the Isle of Man

Pond life

Not for playing with.

Finally, something to drink.

We were kept on a leash the entire time.

By the end of the walk, we were knackered. The lovely tearoom staff gave us biscuits, and we were allowed to go inside and rest. Great place. The humans loved their cakes.  

The Man wanted to visit Dunskey Castle, which the satnav said was a short drive away.  I think the heat had got into its chips because it wanted to take us through a farm, then to a private holiday park, then directed us in the wrong direction so we could go away to let it try again. The Man ignored it, and eventually we found the car park at the harbour in Portpatrick. The path to the castle was right beside it. The car park was free, so that was a big plus for him.

Where did the roof go?

It's not inside.

It's not down there.

Or over here.

We never found the roof.

We stopped off at the Crown Hotel for a drink afterwards.
It was actually cooler outside thanks to the sea breeze.

The day turned overcast

At the hotel, we were allowed to eat together in the restaurant. The staff looked after us. At dinner on the first night, the waitress brought us a plate of cold, sliced beef to share. At breakfast, the waiter gave us two whole sausages. On the day we left, Poppy popped into the kitchen to pay her respects to the chef, much to everyone's surprise, especially the Man, who dropped his butter knife with a clatter as he tried, and failed, to grab her leash. We still received some chopped sausage, but sadly, only one between us.

We stopped off on the way home for a comfort break near Trump's Turnberry at a place called Maidens. It has a beach that looks and smells like a sea beast has suffered a dose of the runs. The stinky, deep seaweed was peppered with human detritus. "Someone should clean this place up", shouted the Man's boots as they sank ankle deep in yuck.

Even the birds are not eating it.

I so wanted to roll in it!

 This month's decking furniture battle

Us fighting? Why would you think that?

Wildlife

The ducklings are getting bigger

Hedgehog spotted behind the cabin

Poppy Pics

Practising to be a garden ornament

Copying my relaxing position

Stealing my bed, now Molly has gone.

Pretending she can be trusted in the boot.

Posing above Paisley

Playing the fool.

I wonder what next month will bring